Category Archives: Fun

Robert Anson Heinlein was born at Butler, Missouri on this day in 1907. One of the “Big Three” authors of science fiction (along with Asimov and Clarke), his stories offered vivid characters who consistently were independent in both thought and action. He used his stories to comment on politics, religion, and sexuality, and described the waterbed so clearly that when it was actually invented it was impossible to patent it. I’ve spent many delightful hours in his worlds. Here are a few quotes from the grand master.
Today’s Quotes:
It may be better to be a live jackal than a dead lion, but it is better still to be a live lion. And usually easier.
The hardest part about gaining any new idea is sweeping out the false idea occupying that niche. As long as that niche is occupied, evidence and proof and logical demonstration get nowhere. But once the niche is emptied of the wrong idea that has been filling it – once you can honestly say, “I don’t know,” then it becomes possible to get at the truth.
The difference between science and the fuzzy subjects is that science requires reasoning while those other subjects merely require scholarship.
To be matter of fact about the world is to blunder into fantasy – and dull fantasy at that, as the real world is strange and wonderful.
To get anywhere, or even to live a long time, a man has to guess, and guess right, over and over again, without enough data for a logical answer.
$100 invested at 7% interest for 100 years will become $100,000, at which time it will be worth absolutely nothing.
– All from Robert Anson Heinlein, 1907 – 1988

From today’s Quote of the Day
More Heinlein quotes here.

Oh-oh! As if I needed yet another way to mess up my credit rating! Now, they are rolling out Coke machines that take credit cards! The way I drink Coke, this is a path to sure bankrupcy!
I always wanted to install a sink in my kitchen with three faucets: cold water, hot water and cold Coke, piped in straight from the nearest Coke factory. As much Coke as I have consumed to date, the CocaCola company should just provide me with free Coke (and free delivery) for the rest of my life – I deserve it – I singlehandedly kept their company afloat over all these years. Thus, there is no need to install a Cokemeter for my third faucet….

It all has to do with a day, from journeys to circadian rhythms.

See for yourself.

Get your own slogan – just type in your name (or whatever word you want) and click …The Advertising Slogan Generator does the rest for you. As it did for me – just check the title of this post.
Update: Ha! I knew other sciencebloggers were gonna love this. And here they are, generating their own slogans: Grrrlscientist, PZ and Afaranesis (so far)! And Chris.
Oh, and I did a few more myself:
Try Quail, You’ll Like It.
Get In My Bora.
The Cream of Sleep.
The Coolest Circadian on Ice.
I am Stuck on Circadian, ‘Cause Circadian’s Stuck on Me.
Bet You Can’t Eat Clock.

After reading this review, I really want to go and see the new movie.

Via Accidental Blogger, come these truly amazing photos of Hindu ascetics playing soccer. I wish they qualified for the World Cup! On only slightly more serious note, Ruchira Paul has an interesting post on Soccer and Political Theory. Dou you agree with the premise?